Necktie.



J. T. GOWEN;

NBGKTIE.

APPLICATION rnnn JAN. 20, 1909.

Patented May 18, 1909.

0.. WksHlNGTDlI, 47. c4

JOHN T. OOWEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

nncK'rrn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed January 20, 1909. Serial No. 473,234.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN T. CownN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Neckties, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of an improvement in neckties, and has for its object to provide means whereby the tie may be easily and conveniently applied, particularly to a turndown collar. It is composed of a band of elastic material adapted to encircle the collar, having terminal elements for temporary connection with the collar button and for attachment of the inner ends of the two portions comprising the tie proper, with lengtl'i-adjusting buckles, constructed in the manner and adapted to operate as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings I-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device ready for use. F 2 is a view of one of the terminal tie-connecting and holding elements. Fig. 3 is an edge view of said device showing portions of the elastic band and tie attached.

In the use of all string ties, particularly of the four-in-hand or Ascot type, with turn-down collars, considerable difliculty is frequently incident to the operation of adjusting the tie after the knot is formed, due to the binding of the collar, preventing its being drawn around in either direction. In my invention, I employ a band 2 of elastic material of any suitable construction of well known form, in which the elastic bands are woven in with the web, and provide terminal eyelet devices 3, 3. These terminals 3 are connected with said band at each end by passing it through a rear slotted opening 4 and connecting the other end of the band with the cross member of a tightening or loosening buckle 5, of well known construction. One of said buckles is preferably employed at each side, by which the length of the band between the terminal elements 3, 3, may be adjusted to suit the user, or various sizes of collars. It is desired that when so adjustecb'the length of the band 2 shall be such that the terminal elements 3, 3, will not meet around the neck without sulficient stretching to withdraw said elements backwarclly after they have been released from temporary engagement with the collar button. For such attachment the ends of the terminal 3, are provided with eyelet openings 6 of suitable size and form to pass over the head of the collar button, while immediately back of said eyelets are openings 7 separated therefrom by a cross bar 8. Beyond openings 7 backwardly is a similar transverse bar 9, dividing opening 7 from a narrower slot-like opening 10, between which opening and opening A is another cross bar 11, the rear end of the terminal consisting of a similar cross bar 12.

The terminal element 3 is preferably made of thin sheet metal, or of other suitable ma terial, as celluloid. The edges of the several cross bars and of its entire body portion are preferably finished so as .to leave no rough or cutting edges, and if desired the cross bar 8 or all of the cross bars may be rounded by crimping the edges of the metal toward each other, although care should be taken not to materially increase their normal thickness, which is comparatively thin, to avoid filling up the space between the inner and outer portions of the collar. It will be observed that the rear portion of the terminal 3 is considerably wider than its forward portion, to receive the Width of the fabric of band 2 and also for engagement with the inner end of the tie 13. As shown such inner end of the tie at each side is passed around cross bar 11 and sewed together so as to neatly connect the parts, the tie proper being of any desired length for making either a fourin-hand, Ascot, or a bow tie. The forward terminal having the eyelet 6 is narrowed in width to be merely sufliciently wide to en gage the collar button, although any desired proportions or design may be adopted.

The advantage of the cross bar 8 is that it affords a bearing for the end of the finger or thumb in adjusting" eyelet 6 upon the button, while the cross bar 9 may also afi'ord a finger hold for grasping. If desired however, either of said bars may be omitted without necessarily impairing the efliciency of the device, and if desired any other suitable construction may be employed for at tachment of the tie ends or of the loop terminals of band 2, although I have secured excellent results from the construction as shown.

The middle portion of band 2 is preferably provided with a button hole 1A for attachment to the back collar button, although such is not absolutely necessary. It is however, of advantage in holding the band against dislodgment in drawing either end of its terminal 3 for attachment to the button.

The operation ofthe device will be obvious from the foregoing description. Having been placed in position beneath the folds of the collar, each terminal eyelet 6 is drawn forward and secured upon the front collar button, after which the tie is knotted somewhat loosely as is usual. The eyelets 3 are then released and will be drawn backwardly by the elastic band, drawing with them the inner ends of the tie and thereby adjusting the knot snugly in place without the necessity of any further tightening or pulling.

The annoyance of adjusting the tie between the folds of the collar and of drawing it tight against the friction thereof is completely avoided, simplifying and shortening the time of the operation, while insuring the maintenance of the tie knot in position at all times. The knot may be untied without any trouble whatever in the ordinary way, or if preferred the terminals 3 may be drawn forwardly by the tie ends and hooked over the collar but-ton, thereby providing ample looseness in case such is desired.

()rdinarily the entire device constitutes a complete tie, but it is obvious that the band 2 and its terminal attachments may be used with. several ties by merely disconnecting the old tie and attaching the new one.

' The advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated by all those familiar with the use of neckties and will be found to greatly contribute to the ease of their manipulation in the manner set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim is i-' 1. A necktie band of elastic material having terminal elements provided with buttonengaging eyes and means for attaching the inner ends of the tie, substantially as set forth.

engaging eyes and means for attaching the inner ends of the tie, and provided with lengthening or shortening buckles, and hav ing a button hole intermediate of its'ends, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of anelastic band having terminal securing-devices provided with buttoning eyes and tie-attaching elements, and tie portions secured thereto, substantially asset forth.

6. The combination with terminal securing elements composed of flat metal having outer terminal buttoning eyes, transverse partition arms and lntervening spaces of an elastic band looped through the rear space, and tie portions secured to the adjacent cross bars, substantially as set forth.

'7. The combination with terminal securing elements composed of thin metal having outer terminal buttoning eyes and transverse partition arms with intervening spaces; of an elastic band looped around the rear bar and provided with adjusting buckles at each side, and tie portions secured to the adjacent cross bar, substantially as set forth In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. COWVEN.

l Vitnesses C M. CLARKE, Cnas. S. LEPLEY. 

